Researcher M. Oakes

Photos Submitted to OPOAA: by, M. Oakes

Submitted 11/16/08

I recently made contact through a relative ofmine, with a 80 year old African-American woman, Mary Forehand, in Dunn, LA whohad a picture of her grandmother and children. It was not in great shape. Iasked that they let me work on it in Photoshop, which I did. I decided to do alittle genealogy for her since she had only her memory of the family. I foundquite a lot in the census records and created a family tree for her. I wasimpressed that while they were Mississippi farmers they could read and write. The picture was from 1912 and between Mary Forehand's memory and the censusrecords we sorted everyone out.

Submitted 2/3/09

I made contact with the daughter of Mary Freehand. Her name is Linda Tait. Following a recent visit with her mother in Louisiana she sent me three wonderful pictures that should be added to your site. I think these pictures are really remarkable, I would think to have painted over photographs from this period would be unusual, especially in a state like Mississippi. I would estimate the date of the photos of Dack and Maggie somewhere between 1875-85. Susie's picture is probably around 1900-05, she was born in 1883.

Susie Johnson Mills and her children. They were in Shubuta, Clarke,Mississippi . The husband, not pictured, was Williams Mills. Susie died about1918 in the influenza epidemic. I have found her family in 1900 living in Chuncky Village, Newton, Mississippi. The second picture I found behind myparent's wedding certificate after they died. I suspect the young woman wasfrom Flora, MS

1930 CensusLiving in Police Jury Ward 1, Richland, Louisiana William Mills(54) abt 1876, Married. First married at 21. Working his own farm.Fathers Birthplace AlabamaMothers Birthplace-AlabamaFarmer, Owns farm, Can read and write.

1900 Census Susie Johnson Mills family. Family living in Beat 5, Chuncky Village, Newton, MississippiSays they have been married for 32 years. Cant be correct with Maggies age. Maybe she is 45. She reports 17 Children with 10 living. Everyone can read and write. All born in Mississippi,

1910 Census Susie Johnson Mills fathers family, Susie married by now. Dack C. Johnson(61) b. in MS. In his 4th marriage, only married for 1 year.Lou Johnson(30) wife, b. in MS. 1st marriage for her. 2 children 2 living. Not sure whether these two were out of wedlock before her marriage to Dack. Dack says his father born in South Carolina and mother in Georgia. Lou say father born in Virginia and mother in Mississippi. Dack says cant read or write however Lou says she can and in 1900 Census Dack can read and write. He owns his farm.

1880 Census Maybe family of Williams Mills living in Clarke, MS All can read and write. He is a farmer. Will born in MS. Father & Mother in Alabama. Malinda born in Alabama, Father in South Carolina, Mother in North Carolina Will Mills(59) FatherMalinda Mills(37)Ella Collins(16) StepdaughterHenry Mills (13) SonNannie J. Mills(11) DaughterJoanna Mills(8) DaughterMittie Ann Mills(6) DaughterJames W. Mills(5) Son. Could be Williams Mills.Susan Ann Mills(2) Daughter